I had heard about the "aquarium" which is supposed to be one of the best snorkeling places on the island. I just wasn't quite sure where it was.

It turns out, it's an inlet down on the southern tip of the island in the lava fields. The lava fields are just that. Lots of lava rock.

You have to get up really early to get through the lava fields and to the "aquarium" before the wind picks up and the water starts getting choppy and murky.

So I get up at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning. Drive about 15 min to the lava fields. You then have to hike through the lava fields to get to the inlet. It's quite a hike. Just about the time you start to think, "what was I thinking?" you see the inlet. I put my flippers and mask on an glided through the water. At first I kind of had to glide through some tricky coral rock. Once I was through that, I then had to concentrate on my breathing, taking it nice and slow.

OMG --- all of the sudden there were tons of fish, every color, every size. I couldn't believe my eyes! The water was so crystal clear and calm. Now I know why it is called the "aquarium". You literally feel like you are standing in front of a salt-water aquarium.

I used to work in pet store when I was in high school. The store had a back room that was dedicated solely to salt-water fish. aquariums lined the walls with every kind of salt-water fish you could imagine. I used to stand there and watch the fish wondering if the colors were as vibrant in the ocean as they were in the aquarium. Yes, they are.

The brightest yellow, the angel fish, the tiger fish, the puffer fish,etc. You name it, I think I saw. as I glided through the water I came upon a school of tiger fish. There were so many you couldn't begin to count them all. There were black fish with a fluorescent blue strip along the ridge of its back and belly. There were beautiful angel fish --- black, yellow, and white. There was some other type of fish that was literally fluorescent blue, turquoise, fluorescent green. When the sun hit the water just right, this fish literally "glowed." It was so awesome!!! The fish would swim all around you as if you weren't even there.

I found myself in such awe of my surroundings, my mouth was dropping and water kept leaking into my mouth piece. I kept having to remind myself to bite down on my mouth piece.

My words literally cannot describe the beauty I saw. The song, "God is an Awesome God" kept playing through my head.

I have come close to death several times in my life. It is times such as yesterday that I am truly thankful to God for allowing me to be a part of and see the beauty that he has created.

...and to think, this is all "in my backyard"...

Thank you God!!!!

P.S. I finally have a few pictures so check out the image gallery.

On Saturday, Miss Ginger and I went upcountry to hike some trails. She had an absolute blast. She's very good to stay with me. She may run ahead a little ways, but she always stops to wait on me. We would be walking along, and she would get a whiff of something in the air and go tearing off through the brush. The brush isn't very think, mainly just tall native grass. She would hop through the grass like a rabbit. She was so funny. The last time she went romping through the grass, she turned around to head back to the trail. I don't know what she did, but all I saw were her ears slapping and the I saw her tumble. She flipped over 2 or 3 times and landed on her back. She looked like a turtle trying to turn over. Her feet were paddling but she wasn't moving. I laughed until I just about wet my pants! Her feet were solid black from the dirt on the trail.

Of course, I get up there on the trail and about a third of the way, my stomach starts to cramp. I try to ignore it and kept on going. The cramps started getting worse. Oh no!!! Now I need a bathroom. Of course, no bathroom within miles. I had no choice. Nature, here I come.

Some people say that being this close to nature is very freeing. I say, it was a little too close for comfort. I just knew there was someone watching somewhere.

Well, no long after that episode, my stomach cramps started up again. I decide it's probably best if I just try to make it home.

Good Ol Mother Nature... I think she can be your best friend or your worst enemy at times.

At least I made it home successfully.

Well I made it through my first week, successfully.

There is a mixed plate restaurant on property. Everyday's lunch is themed. Monday was Mexican, Tuesday was Italian, etc. Every Friday is Hawaiian food. There is usually mahi mahi, shrimp or salmon, etc. There is always poi, which is a staple here. There is usually fresh octopus. Well, I tried the pork lau lau w/poi, salmon lomi lomi, and steamed vegetables. The pork lau lau is pork, and sometimes another kind of meat, wrapped in taro leaves, then wrapped in huge leaves and cooked. The taro leaves taste very similar to spinach. The poi is a paste made out of the taro plant. I don't particular care for the taste of it by itself, but it does complement other foods. You dip your fork in the poi then into whatever you are going to eat with it. Not too bad. The lomi lomi is very good. It is fresh tomatoes diced, fresh onions diced, and fresh salmon. I think they rub the salmon in sea salt and other mixed seasonings before adding to the lomi lomi. It is very good.

For those of you that don't know me, I have never liked fish. Growing up in the Texas Panhandle, there is no fresh fish. Yes they catch carp, bass, etc out of the lakes, but the smell soooo bad. It's disgusting! When you go to the supermarket and walk by the "fresh fish" counter, it stinks sooo bad, you want to hurl! I have never been able to get past the smell. That's why I didn't like fish. It stinks!!!

So far, the fish I have been exposed to here do not smell. Even the octopus doesn't smell. Although I have to admit, looking at pieces of the tentacles just isn't very appetizing to me. So, I'm slowly but surely trying to eat more fish.

Every Friday we have a special "Aloha" in our lobby. Many employees (housekeeping, admins, kitchen, etc.)come to the lobby. We sing several songs. Some in English and some in Hawaiian. For those of you that know me, you know I can't carry a tune in a bucket with a handle on it. Doesn't matter. Everyone sings! Luckily someone had a book with the words in it. Although I still don't know how to read Hawaiian yet, I just hummed and smiled. After the singing, several people do hula dances to different songs. The hula is such a pretty dance. Every move and hand gesture has meaning. Well, that was an experience to say the least.

I'm excited about this next week. I am supposed to start hula lessons. Our guest concierge apparently teaches hula. I told him I was serious about learning. We'll see.

Until next week.....Aloha

Well, my first day consisted of filling out lots of paperwork, of course. Then HR took me on the grand tour of the resort. Everyone is so friendly. It's just amazing. That was pretty much my first day.

My official start date was the following Friday. "Why a Friday?" you ask? I guess it was because my boss was on vacation through the 4th of July and she had lots to wade through when she got back. Still working through all of the kinks, but so far so good.

Everyone is so friendly. Although it still amazes me that one person does one job and that's it. If that person is on vacation, that job doesn't get done until the person gets back. Definitely not used to that.

Each day gets a little busier as I learn a little bit more about the job. I'm a little anxious about how busy it will get when I finally "learn the job."

Only time will tell...

I spent all weekend trying to find a list in the newspaper or on the internet of activities and fireworks displays being offered for the 4th. The newspaper had nothing! Not sure what its' purpose is, but it sure isn't to inform the public about social activities of any kind.

I had heard through the grapevine there was going to be a display at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel down in Wailea. I knew it was going to be crowded, so a friend and I decided to get there reasonably early. We could get a good spot on the beach, watch the sunset, then enjoy the fireworks. Sounds like a good plan, huh?

We made it to the beach and sat up our beach chairs. Just as we got comfortable, a security officer came by and told us they were going to be clearing the beach at 7:30. Grrr....

So, now we are on the hunt for a good spot. All resorts hired extra security personnel to keep the "locals" out of the resorts during the "festivities." We did find a little grassy knoll up above the beach. We decided to park ourselves in there and see what happens. We were there by ourselves until a little after dark.

Well, the "festivities" began. It looked like someone took a box of sparklers and lit the entire box. That went on for probably 40 min. or so. Finally, the real fireworks started. They lasted, oh, 'bout 5 min. That was it!

For whatever reason, I expected something more. Not sure why....

oh well, back to the grind we go....